March 27th, 2024 - Winter Season Week 8
(FINAL WEEK OF THE WINTER SEASON)
What's Inside This Week?
👉Video Update with Farmer Yosef
👉Upcoming schedule of events for April
👉Special Offer for our Members!
👉Must-Read Announcements
👉This Week's Article: “Meet Farmer Yosef (Shoutout Magazine)
👉Featured Gardening Tip of the Week: "Make Your Own Compost Extract"
👉Featured Vegetable: Pea Shoots!
👉Also: Don't miss our "Around the Farm" this week, our announcements, our weekly harvest list and more!
It's the last week of winter, and thank goodness for that because we can't wait for spring!! Winter has been a bear, for sure and it's ending none too soon! Come take a walk with me for a few minutes as we talk about the upcoming season, I show you the destruction from the blizzard and give you the update for the week, and more!
0:01 - Intro 0:45 - Blizzard!! 1:45 - CSA update and what to expect this week. 4:30 - Spring starts next week! 4:55 - Don't miss the preseason meeting, April 1st. 6:30 - Tour and Homeschool Day! 8:00 - Looking ahead to spring. 9:00 - ACI update. 11:25 - Outro
Dear FARMILY!
WOW! I can’t believe the winter season is coming to a close THIS WEEK 😲! Yup, that’s right, this is the final week of the winter season and it’s been a great one and it absolutely flew by! The value of the CSA has been quite impressive and the abundance of variety has been wonderful. Our team has been amazing and the amount of effort that was put into this season was incredible! A big hat’s off to the team for pulling off the impossible (especially with all the winter-weather ups and downs [farming locally in the winter is NOT easy!]– they crushed it!)👏!!
Being the last week of the season we really wanted to end with a BANG, but unfortunately for all of us, the blizzard that hit us on Monday and the remnants from the storm on Tuesday have left us in a dizzying mess! Not only have we lost a lot of infrastructure (see below), but the harvest and the schedule for this last week has crushed our abilities to thrive this last week and really set us back. That means that, although, the share is still “nice” it won’t be as extravagant as we had hoped and it will definitely be on the small side (we are so sorry😞!)…and that means the variety at the market this week might suffer as well.
In addition to ending the season on a little bit of a whimper, we are struggling to get caught up from all this incredible cold that we have been having. Can you believe it got down to 7 degrees on Tuesday!? It’s supposed to be spring, but the weather feels like it is the middle of the winter! Spring must be coming soon…right?..RIGHT🤷!?
Though we are behind, I have a feeling that it won’t take long for the farm to catch up, however, as we are fully planted (where we can be) and as soon as the weather turns the crops will catch up and the abundance might be more than we hoped for (we always over-plant to ensure our members get more than what they paid for!).
For those of you who will be ending with us for the season, we wish you the best and thank you for the support you have giving us. For those of you who will be starting with us in the Spring we look forward to meeting you all and building a relationship with you, hopefully for the long-haul!
In addition to a great newsletter this week (enjoy!), don’t forget to join us for the pre-season meeting on Monday, April 1st @ 6pm (members, check your e-mails for the season details on Monday morning!). The meeting will be a LIVE Video meeting in our Facebook Community Group (if you aren’t signed up for that, don’t forget to do so!). For those who will not be able to make it, the meeting will be recorded and sent out so no one misses the information.
That’s all I have for you this week, I hope you enjoy the newsletter and we look forward to meeting all the new members this Spring!
Farmer Yosef and Family!
WE L❤️VE OUR COMMUNITY!
🚨🚨ATTENTION COMMUNITY! PLEASE READ!🚨🚨
Dear Ahavah Community,
Since 2018 we have donated over 7,500 bags of freshly harvested vegetables to local families in need. This Winter season alone there are over 50 families who will have received over 400 bags of these vegetables, and this Spring we just approved 69 more families for an additional 690 bags!! That’s right, nearly 30% of our members are families who receive free memberships of these weekly vegetables! These are families that have been suffering with severe illness, are poverty stricken through various means and are struggling to feed their families healthy foods.
As you stand in line for your CSA, or rub elbows with those at our stand, you should know that one of every three of those very individuals are receiving a donated share. These are people with real needs and real struggles, families whom we all love and cherish and people we absolutely must continue to support.
With that said, the Spring season is upon us and our funds are running very low. With over 80 applications at the time of this writing, we are absolutely petrified that we won’t have the opportunity to support them all, and we don’t know how to say no to so many dire individuals and families, nor should we have to – but we can’t do it without you!
Although the Bring-A-Buck campaign has helped tremendously this year and so many have continued to support your neighbors and friends in our community in other ways, we are pleading with you to help us support these families who need fresh, healing vegetables with your additional donations this coming season.
If you have any ability to help, we are simply begging all of our community to pull together and donate. If every one of our members donated $25.00, this would supply all the funds required to support these members for the Spring season.
Please, from the bottom of our hearts to yours, PLEASE HELP support your community by considering an additional donation of $25.00 to help support a local family in need!
100% of every penny donated to this campaign will go STRAIGHT and only to these local community families. Please consider a donation today!
👩🌾Around the Farm This Week👩🌾
👈Ryan and Yisrael are working hard in this cold weather to get some of our outdoor grow-areas set up so we can plant the onions! FINALLY we are hoping the weather is warm enough over the next few weeks that we can get these onions firmly planted and rooted so we can have a big harvest in the fall. Remember, we only have 105 days of grow season here in Peyton (that’s 30 days less than Anchorage Alaska!) so we have to push hard and be creative!
👉Harvesting spinach! Spinach will be in your shares this week – a member favorite!
👈We have about a ZILLION tomato plants that are about ready to be for sale. Keep an eye out as we have so many we will be discounting them greatly forall of our members’ gardens – don’t get them anywhere else, we have you covered! We will have the following (all heirloom) varieties: Beefsteak, Moneymaker, Barry’s Cherries, Black Cherry, Green Zebra, Yellow Brandywine, Red Brandywine, Purple Cherokee and Azoychka.
👉Oh my, look at these carrots this week! Unfortunately, it’s the last carrots we will see for a few weeks until the next crops come in, but enjoy them this week because they are GORGEOUS!
👈Charles, our amazing microgreen master harvesting the barley grass. Barley grass is one of those amazingly nutritious items that a lot of people don’t know about, but those that do absolutely LOVE it! I love to chew it and swallow the juice throughout the day as a great pick-me-up.
👉Unfortunately we got crushed from the blizzard that came through this week. Dealing with this wind has never been easy. Ten years of this and you’d think I would get it by now (I forgot to take down the canopies and of course…!!).
👈We had such a blessed Purim with friends and we hope that yours was equally blessed! Asher read the Megillah, and Yosef gave some Torah lessons and a bunch of friends joined us for a couple of beautiful meals!
👉The farm is looking good! We are excited for Spring!
👇Eliana and the kids got some riding time in this week on our horse. Here she is trotting along!
Spring and Summer Share REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
💥💥With a Special Offer For Summer Members (SEE BELOW👇👇!!)💥💥
...and don't miss out on our REFER A FRIEND program to earn $25.00 for both YOU & a FRIEND!
If you are looking for the freshest, purest and most nutrient-dense vegetables you can this Summer, then you don't want to miss the Ahavah Farm CSA Veggie-Share! 16 weeks of the best veggies you can find. It's going to be an AWESOME year!
Go to www.ahavahfarm.com/csa to register for our Spring & Summer season Community Supported Agriculture Veggie-Shares and get weekly bags of the freshest, most nutrient-dense vegetables available!!
✔The highest quality, 100% local, produce you can find, harvested and delivered fresh every week! ✔Pure, chemical-free, regeneratively grown produce. ✔Flexible payment options. ✔Many discounts are available - see website! ✔4 Locations for CSA pickup (Peyton, COS, DEN and Monument. ✔Door to Door delivery options available! ✔Got SNAP!? Get 50% off your CSA share automatically! ✔Every share supports families in need through donations. ✔Flexible CSA options, holds, credits and more! ✔Classes, events, tours and community opportunities.
⭐100% of everything we sell is grown and harvested and delivered by Ahavah Farm and Ahavah Farm ONLY - All produce is grown 100% on our farm in Peyton Colorado, near Colorado Springs without a single chemical, in rich, composted soil. We use biodynamic principles to grow the purest, most nutrient-dense vegetables available and deliver them to you fresh, every week!
💥💥SUMMER MEMBERS ONLY - FOR OUR 10th ANNIVERSARY!💥💥
REFERAL PROGRAM!
Refer a friend to Ahavah Farm's CSA and you BOTH will receive $25 in credit to use ANYTIME you want! Use to buy extra vegetables, or take $25 off your next CSA purchase - your credit will never expire!
New members simply send an e-mail to contact@ahavahfarm.com to let us know who referred you and you BOTH receive your $25 certificate! It's that easy!😁
Ahavah Community Indoor / Outdoor Farmer's Market
Every Friday from 10am to 1pm!
The weather the last few weeks has been miserable! Fortunately for us, the indoor market was still nice and warm and our members, customers and friends have all been enjoying the market's on these snowy days!
When the weather warms up, we will be sure to head on outside to enjoying the shining sun and to play on the playground! Speaking of playgrounds, did you know that we have a HUGE playground full of swings, slides, climbing things and more!? That's right, and we also have TWO bounce houses! one for the little, littles (inside) and one for the bigger kids (outside!).
There is always something to do at the markets and as the weather starts to warm up and we head outside on a more frequent basis, more vendors and more activities will be available, so keep an eye out on our Facebook page and check our calendar of events as we fill our Friday's with more and more joy!
🥕🥬🌱Vegetables at the Farmer's Market this week
(March 29th)
(For CSA location "extras", please see below in the "Extra Vegetables section)
✅Spinach
✅Red Russian Kale
✅Turnips
✅Salad Mix
✅Mustard
✅Dried Herbs
✅Living Plants (basil, cilantro, mint, succulents and MANY more)
✅Pea Shoots
✅Sunflower Shoots
✅Radish Microgreens
✅Broccoli Microgreens
✅Barley Grass
📢FEATURED VENDOR OF THE WEEK!📢
Ahavah Farm Nursery
🪴Plants Plants, Lot's Of Plants!🪴
The springtime is almost upon us and the Ahavah Farm nursery is loaded with plants ready for you to place in your gardens! Whether you are a gardener or not, Ahavah Farm Nursery has you covered with house plants, water-less plants, pollinator plants, aloe plants, flowers and garden plants of all kinds!
Almost exclusively heirloom varieties, all of our plants are organically grown without chemicals or pesticides, in 100% certified organic soil. Never sprayed, always loved and right for our location, our plants are all started from seed and never imported
or brought in from an unknown grower.
We have hundreds of plants available with over a hundred different varieties to choose from.
Available all year at all of the Ahavah Community Farmer’s Market and at all of the regular CSA locations in Denver, Monument and Colorado Springs!
ATTENTION LOCAL ARTISANS!
We are so excited about our current line-up of vendors, but we are still seeking more!
✅FREE MARKET for all vendors!
✅100% of raised funds goes to feeding LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED!
✅PERMANENT tents! No need to bring a tent - just come and set up under ours!
✅Indoors and heated on COLD days!
✅GUARANTEED traffic of 200 people + per market!
✅FRIDAY's from 10am to 1pm
👉If you are a local vendor and are interested in attending our farmer's market, please reach out directly at manager@ahavahfarm.com and we will send you information and the vendor agreement.
Meet Yosef Camire | Owner, Ahavah Farm
- By SHOUTOUT COLORADO (Original Article can be found here)
We had the good fortune of connecting with Yosef Camire and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Yosef, what matters most to you? My professional values and my personal values may differ to a degree, but generally speaking, they line up fairly well. Personally, I am a truth seeker and hold the value of Truth to be my highest value. How that translate to my professional career would be in the every way that I choose to live my life. Owning a farm was a way for me to incorporate my desire to live a truthful and upright life to the best of my abilities and to make an impact on the world around me. I feel that I have the opportunity every day to wake up and do the right thing, whether for the environment, my family, my community or for those who are hurting within the community. This ultimately leads to the value of truth being the utmost on my spectrum of beliefs because it projects me towards the things of this world that are really important and in doing those things in a way that is without compromise and without the boundaries of a system that I do not believe in.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others? What makes Ahavah Farm so special is our no-compromise approach to running a business dedicated to our local community, our planet and to absolute purity in all that we do. We call ourselves a “value-based” farm which ultimately means that it is our values that direct us and motivate us, and not profit or some other external measure.
We are an ecologically-organic, regenerative small family CSA farm. Located near Colorado Springs, we have a 300 – 400 member CSA that has 6 pickup locations (Peyton, Denver, Colorado Springs, Monument, Woodland Park and Fountain).We strive to be as environmentally regenerative as possible, operating on 100% solar power and operating without chemicals of any kind whatsoever.
Our growing methods are tractor-free, chemical-free and beyond all Certified Organic standards while the majority of all crops are heirloom varieties which increases flavor, experience and nutrition.
We also have a non-profit organization, called Ahavah Community Initiative, which is truly the heart of the organization and the area that propels us forward every day of our lives, which aims to donate regenerative and local food to people who need it the most as well as to do regenerative agriculture outreach, kids programs and events.
Since 2018, between Ahavah Farm and Ahavah Community Initiative, we have donated over $650,000.00 worth of free, beyond-organic, fresh vegetables to local families in need (that’s over 7,000 bags of freshly harvested produce to our local community!).
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc. There’s not much around here that fancy our entertainment preferences. There are a lot of hiking opportunities in the area, and of course we are close to the mountains where hiking and camping abound. We also enjoy fishing on occasion, so perhaps we would take them fishing. We do live close to the Paint Mine Open Space which is located just 15 minutes from here.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Definitely my family. If it wasn’t for all their support, not just spiritually, emotionally or mentally, but physically, their efforts and sacrifices are truly what have made this farm a success. In addition there is clearly a lot I owe to the community members who have given back over the years. So many people have come together to walk along side our family and put in amazing amounts of efforts over the years. To them, I am ultimately grateful!
Ahavah Community Upcoming Schedule
👉March 29th @ 10am: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR Spring Market. It's the last week of our Winter Season!
👉April 1st @ 6pm: PRESEASON MEETING! Ahavah Farm CSA preseason meeting takes place for all CSA members at 6pm in the Ahavah Community Facebook Group. DON'T MISS IT!
👉April 5th @ 10am: It's our first HOMESCHOOL DAY of 2024. Bring the kids for this fun event. We will have an activity, a farm tour, and more. Plus, our FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR Spring Market
👉April 5th @ 10am: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉April 12th @ 10am: ADULT EDUCATION! How to Grow Your Own. Part 2 of 4. w/ Lorin Mattemore. Email Beth at contact@ahavahfarm.com
👉April 19th @ 10am: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉April 22nd - April 26th: Week of Passover - EXPECT changes to the CSA pickup schedule.
Go to www.ahavahfarm.com/classes to learn more, to register and to see the rest of our schedule of events and classes!
🥕EXTRA VEGGIES and PLANTS FOR SALE🌻
Can't make it to the Farm for the Friday Farmer's Market? THAT'S OK! Please be sure to check out the extras table at all of our CSA pickup locations: available for all members and even NON-MEMBERS!
Simply come to any of the CSA locations on Thursday and Friday and pick up some of our beyond-organic veggies for sale!
(IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that selection is limited and the more requests and participation we receive, the more vegetables and varieties we will provide)
Food bearing plants also qualify for SNAP !!!
For Payment: Cash or Check at the drops or the balance can be sent via PayPal to contact@ahavahfarm.com or via Venmo to 719-233-7828
Availability for "EXTRA's at the CSA pickup locations this week (Week 8):
(see Farmer's Market Section, above, for market selection this week)
Please take the time to read the article above regarding our availabilty
✅Salad Mix
✅Carrots
✅Mustard Greens
✅Dried Herbs
✅Red Russian Kale
✅Turnips
✅Living Plants (basil, cilantro, mint, succulents and more)
✅Pea Shoots
✅Sunflower Shoots
✅Radish Microgreens
✅Broccoli Microgreens
✅Barley Grass
Microgreen CSA Shares Are Available! Sign Up Today and SAVE 💲💲💲!
Microgreen CSA Share: 3 Servings of Microgreens EVERY WEEK! Save 17%!!!
Love our microgreens but haven't signed up for a Microgreen CSA?
All Packaging is Compostable and Green!👉
We pride ourselves on our microgreen quality as being not only absolutely pure - grown without chemicals, fertilizers or inefficient energy (we grow with 100% solar, renewable energy!), but they are absolutely beautiful, long-lasting and delicious! We really can't rave enough!
WHAT'S IN A SHARE? In your Microgreen CSA you will receive a combination of 3 microgreens every week with the option to purchase add-ons and extras when available.
Pickup locations and times are the same as Ahavah Farm Veggie Share CSA but you do not have to be a veggie-share member to be a microgreen CSA member - these are two independent programs combined into one.
Order yours today at https://www.ahavahfarm.com/microgreen-csa
🚨Updated Member Benefits🚨
🚨Easy & Flexible Payment Plans!🚨
🥕Paypal "Pay Later" options on the website! These are no-credit check, interest-free online payment plans so you can make 4 smaller payments directly through Paypal. Ahavah Farm benefits as well by paid immediately, thereby providing the farm liquidity, while giving our members flexibility and ease of mind!
🥕We also still have FLEXIBLE and CUSTOMIZABLE offline pay plans in place if you would prefer to make payments via check. Please email us at contact@ahavahfarm.com if you would like more information on offline payment plan and to set up your payment schedule.
🚨Got SNAP? Save 50% Off Automatically!🚨
‼️🛑STOP - Please do not miss this section🛑‼️
⚠️ATTENTION MEMBERS! Please share this information with your friends and family members! ⚠️
People on SNAP NEED this information! Ahavah Farm offers 50% off all of our memberships, vegetables and market items! This is the healthiest, MOST nutrient-dense, MOST regeneratively grown produce for less than non-organic Walmart prices. EVERYONE who is on SNAP should know about this!! - PLEASE HELP GET THE WORD OUT🙏!
🥕If you receive EBT (aka SNAP) you will receive 50% off of your membership automatically!
In addition, all extra veggies sold at the market or the CSA locations and also all nursery plant starts are also 50% off when paying with SNAP!
Follow these steps to purchase your SNAP membership 👉
Signing up for a CSA share using SNAP is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3!
1.
Go to ahavahfarm.com/csa and select the size share you want.
2.
When checking out and select "CASH PAYMENT"
3.
Send us an e-mail and let us know you will be paying with SNAP. We will automatically discount your share 50% and set you up on a bi-weekly payment plan to pay with your SNAP card!
Please spread the word and let us know if you have any questions!
Founded in April of 2018, our mission is to connect people who are facing food insecurity due to financial struggles to locally-farmed, regeneratively-grown produce, and to provide education centered around healthy living and environmental consciousness. We do this by offering donated memberships to a local CSA program. Memberships include a weekly bag of produce along with discounted (often free) farm tours, classes, and events.
We want to help participate in the creation of a local food-system-economy, build on a diversity of local and regenerative food education and provide activities and children's events centered around environmentally responsible agriculture and pure, beyond-organic, local food.
"HI! Did you BRING-A-BUCK Today?!"
Oh the amazing power of community and crowdfunding!
Every week, at all of the CSA locations, we have a bin or jar that looks similar to this. As being a part of Ahavah Farm is also about being a part of a community, we ask all of our members to bring just one dollar with them every week to help us provide a CSA membership to a family in need next season.
Don't say your dollar isn't important! The only way crowdfunding works is if we all participate. Your $1 is vitally important and it is directly through this program that we raise the majority of ACI's food donation funds than any other fundraising program, and yet it is the absolute easiest for all of our members to participate!
During the Fall season, your Bring-A-Buck dollars will allow us to donate Fall CSA shares to families facing food insecurity and to offer subsidized shares to struggling families as well.
PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR BUCKS!🙏
HOW TO MAKE (AND APPLY) LIQUID COMPOST EXTRACT
-By Yosef Camire
Making compost extract is a breeze and it is one of the absolute best things you can add to your garden. We love it as a soil drench as well as a garden spray, but really it is an awesome way to extend the spreadability, the nutrient bioavailability and the cost of your compost to make it the most impactful way to use in your garden.
To make compost extract all you really need is some compost and water, but we like to add a few nutrients depending on what we are doing.
We also like to add molasses to the mix which gives the bacteria in the soil a great boost.
To go the extra mile you can use any of your biodynamic preps to add to the mix as well. We like to use the Pfeiffer Field Spray (found at the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Inc.). This is a super-packed bacterial spray that will help inoculate your garden with an enormous amount of living bacteria that will continue to reproduce (especially when combined with the compost extract and the molasses.
If you don’t have access to organic molasses you can also use regular organic sugar to help feed the bacteria (a cup of molasses or sugar to a 5 gallon sprayer is more than enough to do the trick).
Want the compost extract to be more fungal? Add wheat berries to water, allow them to soak over-night and add the water to the mix, this will beef up that fungi!
Making the compost extract is super-simple:
Take about 1 lb of compost per gallon of water (DO NOT USE CHLORINATED WATER!) and add it to a bucket and mix it, along with any of the other ingredients mentioned and stir it really good. We like to take a paint mixer (the kind that goes on the end of a power drill) and mix it up real good. We also like to allow the mixture to sit for about an hour to ensure a good release of the nutrients from the compost (but this isn’t necessary).
Next, use a strainer to strain out the liquid (so the compost doesn’t clog the sprayer) and separate the solids from the liquid. Cheesecloth will work well, but we prefer to use paint strainer bags instead – but this is up to you.
Now, take all the solids you are left with and use it as a mulch around your plants (or place back into the compost pile to re-use it again in a few weeks). Take the liquid, add it to your favorite sprayer and spray the leaves and the roots of all your plants. This will make a huge difference in not only providing bacteria and fungi, but also in providing nutrients and protection against disease! To give you an idea of the spray rate, about 10 gallons can cover an acre (however, you can go nuts and not worry about overapplying).
If you don’t have a sprayer, that’s ok too…just spread it around and use it as a soil soak at the base of your plants. They will love it! However, without a sprayer, you won’t be able to spray the leaves as a foliar spray (one great way to get rid of leaf-diseases like powdery mildew etc.
VOLUNTEERING
Our volunteers are the backbone of our organization and we couldn't do it without you...but we need more help!
We need help with so many things:
Construction Projects
Landscaping Projects
Composting Projects
Harvesting, washing and prep.
Weeding
Bag Packing
Teaching Classes
General farm cleanup
and more...got a skill you want to share? Let us know!
Volunteering is Monday through Friday 9AM to 4PM.
Please let Jessie know you are interested, she will send more information and necessary paperwork, and we will welcome you with open arms!
What's in your bags this week?
Winter Week 8 - March 28 and 29
Market-Style Members Selection - Week 8
Carrots, Mustard, Salad mix, Dried Herbs, Red Russian Kale, Living Herbs, Turnips, Lettuce, Sunflower Shoots, Pea Shoots, Spinach, Broccoli Microgreens, Radish Microgreens, Barley Grass
This Week's Harvest
As always, nothing is guaranteed. These are the items that are "in season" and are anticipated to be ready this week (which may or may not be available at the CSA).
Small = 4-6 items per week ($23.50/wk)
Medium = 7-9 items per week ($33.50/wk)
Large = 10-12 items per week ($43.50/wk)
Spinach - Truly, and without exaggeration, this spinach is the sweetest spinach you have ever tasted in your life! The best way to enjoy this spinach is raw, but if you are so inclined, it is fantastic simply cooked down, sautéed or to use in a soup.
Mustard greens- Add these leafy greens to your diet by mixing mustard greens into a chopped salad or cook it like most leafy greens. The greens are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin K, B1, B2, B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E! this is one of our absolute FAVORITE greens to saute' 😋 and when we do we simply add some salt and garlic and enjoy.
Radishes- Radishes are most often served raw, halved and sprinkled with salt, shaved into salads, layered over butter-smeared baguettes, or shredded into slaws. They also can be marinated with olive oil and lemon and mint for a refreshing salad, and they can be pickled with a classic vinegar-sugar-salt mix. PS. if you have never tried roasted radishes - you are missing out on a delicious treat! It's our favorite way to eat them (with a drizzle of honey, of course!😊)!
Salad Mix - Not much to say about lettuce, except that it is wonderful and fresh and delightful and all that stuff! We love it. It's light and fluffy and delicious!
Turnip Greens - Did you know that turnips greens have more bio-available calcium than any other plant on the planet!? Very versatile and popular in the south, our turnips greens are fantastic for stir-fry or to just sauté as a side-green to any dish. you can also enjoy them raw, as they have a unique, buttery flavor that is amazing!
Carrots- The best carrots around! You will be amazed by how much flavor our carrots pack. Many of our members have commented that they cannot go back to store-bought after tasting our pure, beyond organic carrots!
Red Russian Kale- Red russian kale is normally a baby green, but this week we have beautiful bunches for you. Awesome for a salad raw, or better yet saute'd with some oil and salt to season (add garlic for an amazing yuminess).
Dried Herbs - We have a mixture of dried herbs for you this week. We have dill, basil, mint and fennel.
Barley Wheat Grass - Many of our members absolutely love our barley grass and use it religiously. We hope you take the time to learn and enjoy this most amazingly nutritious green! More nutritious than wheat grass and less bitter, barley grass is used mostly for juicing. However, I, Yosef (and many of our team members) love to use ian energy and nutrition
Radish Microgreens - Next to the barley grass and the sunshoots, radish microgreens are some of the most nutritiously-dense items we grow on the farm and not only that, but during our annual survey last year, they ranked as the #1 most requested and love item we grow! They have a fantastic bite to them, last considerably long in the refrigerator and are beautiful in appearance.
Pea Shoots - One of the most desired and sought after items we provide are these pea shoots! Quite literally the best you added to any dish or salad. Our favorite way is to add them to stews and soups. A perfect topper too! Here are four fun ways to use Pea Shoots: http://blog.bostonorganics.com/4-fun-ways-to-use-pea-shootst as
Broccoli Microgreens - Last week we told you that Radish Microgreens were the #1 most loved item we grow, well, these microgreens weren't on the list then! I have a sneaking suspicion that these microgreens are the real winners!
Sunshoots - Our sunshoots are certainly some of the nicest, most high-quality sunshoots you will ever find (that actually goes for all our microgreens). They are one of the most beloved items we grow as well and a regular staple to our CSA. Here are some ideas to use your sunnies this week: https://www.martinsgardenacf.com/sunflower-shoots-recipes
Living Herbs - We have an abundance of beautiful living herbs for you. Choose from cilantro, oregano, parsley and more. Each plant counts as one serving.
Veggie of the week!
Amazing, Delicious and Nutritious 🥬🥬PEA SHOOTS!
Introduction:
This week, we shine the spotlight on pea shoots, delicate and tender greens that pack a punch of flavor and nutrition.
Nutritional Benefits:
Pea shoots are not just a garnish; they're a powerhouse of nutrients. These young, tender shoots are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate and fiber. They also contain antioxidants that help promote overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Incorporating pea shoots into your diet can contribute to stronger immunity, improved digestion, and better bone health.
Recipe: Pea Shoot Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
- 2 cups pea shoots
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine pea shoots, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and toasted walnuts.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make the vinaigrette.
3. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat.
4. Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavors of this pea shoot salad.
Different Ways to Use Pea Shoots:
1. Stir-fries: Add pea shoots to stir-fries for a pop of color, texture, and flavor. They cook quickly and retain their crispiness, making them a perfect addition to stir-fried dishes with vegetables, tofu, or meat.
2. Sandwiches and Wraps: Use pea shoots as a nutritious and refreshing filling for sandwiches and wraps. Their mild, slightly sweet flavor pairs well with various fillings, such as grilled chicken, avocado, and hummus.
3. Garnish: Sprinkle pea shoots on top of soups, salads, omelets, or pizzas to add a touch of freshness and visual appeal. They not only enhance the presentation but also provide an extra layer of flavor and nutrients.
4. Pesto: Blend pea shoots with garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil to make a vibrant and flavorful pesto sauce. Toss it with cooked pasta or use it as a spread on sandwiches and bruschetta for a delightful twist.
Incorporating pea shoots into your meals not only elevates their nutritional value but also adds a burst of flavor and freshness. Experiment with these versatile greens to discover new ways to enjoy their unique taste and texture. Happy cooking!
⚠ ⚠ ⚠ BAGS! We need your bags (PLEASE🙏) !!⚠ ⚠ ⚠
Thank you everyone for recycling your LARGE bags with us! When we receive your bags we immediately quarantine them for 2 weeks before reusing them to ensure they are safe of any yuckies. Thank you for bringing them and any others you may have (we need any large PAPER-ONLY grocery bags you may have) THANK YOU!